In February 2023 retail sales at constant prices were by 5.0% lower than the year before (against an increase of 8.1% in February 2022). Compared with January 2023 a decline by 3.6% in retail sales was recorded. In the period of January-February 2023 sales decreased y/y by 1.9% (in 2021 a growth of 9.0%).

According to preliminary data construction and assembly production (in constant prices) carried out domestically by construction enterprises employing more than 9 persons was in February 2023 by 6.6% higher than in the same period in 2022 (an increase of 21.2% in the corresponding period of 2022) and by 10.6% higher compared with January 2023 (an increase of 5.8% in the corresponding period of 2022).

In the first two months of 2023, there were less dwellings completed than the year before. The number of dwellings for which permits have been granted or which have been registered with a construction project as well as dwellings in which construction has begun also decreased.

According to preliminary data, in February 2023 the prices of construction and assembly production in comparison with the corresponding month of the previous year increased by 12.9%, and in comparison with January 2023 by 0.6%.

In February 2023, sold production of industry was by 1.2% lower than in February 2022, when an increase was recorded by 17.3% as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, whereas in comparison with January 2023, it increased by 0.4%. In the period January-February of 2023, sold production of industry was by 0.3% higher than in the corresponding period of 2022 which saw an increase by 17.3% as compared to the corresponding period of 2021.

According to preliminary data, the prices of sold production of industry in February 2023 decreased compared to January 2023 by 0.4% and compared to that recorded in the cor-responding month of the previous year increased by 18.4%.

In February 2023, average paid employment in the enterprise sector compared to February 2022 was higher by 0.8% y/y and amounted to 6526.3 thousand full-time equivalents. In comparison to the previous month average paid employment decreased minimally (by 0.1%).